Textile apparatus



New 3, 1936, COCKERHAM 2,059,849

' TEXTILE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1936 Mew? %67 5 L9: @ckerkaflv Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEXTILE APPARATUS setts Application February 25, 1936, Serial No. 65,601

'7 Claims.

This invention pertains to textile apparatus of the type, for example, employed in removing useful fiber from cottonseed or the like, for example, apparatus such as a linter gin, and relates more particularly to an improved floatboard or extension-curve designed to apply pressure to: the seed cotton in the roll-box, such float-board, in some types of machine, having the further function of regulating the feed of material to the roll-box.

Ordinarily this float-board or extension-curve constitutes, in effect, an upward and forward extension of the rear lining member or concave of the roll-box and is mounted upon a horizontal shaft journaled at its opposite ends in the end members of the roll-box, the shaft customarily being provided with a weighted arm tending to turn it in such a direction as to cause the forward portion of the float-board to press downwardly on the material in the box. In most instances the float-board is of substantially rectangular contour, its rear edge being disposed close to the upper edge of the concave of the ro1l-box,-the supporting or pivot shaft being disposed adjacent to the rear edge of the board and at the back side of the latter and the board being secured to the shaft by means of rivets, screws, spot welding, or the like. The forward, free edge of the board is disposed above the roll of seed cotton in the box, the board being downwardly concave in a front-to-rear transverse section, usually having substantially the same curvature as the concave of the box.

In the operation of apparatus of the class n5 described, the roll of seed cotton which forms in the roll-box tends to become much denser midway of the length of the box than adjacent to its ends. In consequence, as the roll slowly rotates in the box, and as fresh seed cotton is fed 40 in at the top, the material tends to rise or pile up at the ends of the box, or in terms of the trade, to boil over at these points and to spill out of the box so that it frequently becomes necessary to build up the ends of the box to 45 avoid such spilling. Further, the inequality in density at various portions of the roll lowers the efficiency of the machine and to some extent lessens the uniformity of the product.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for overcoming the inequalities in density at various parts of the roll and to overcome the tendency of the seed cotton to boil over at the ends of the box. As a desirable, simple and effective means of obtaining the desired result I have discovered that by the use of a float-board or extension-curve of appropriate contour, in particular one which is wider at its ends than at its central portion, a substantially uniform density of roll may be obtained, thus increasing the efficiency of the machine and uniformity of the product and avoiding all of the annoyance and trouble attendant upon spilling of the seed cotton. Y

I am aware that others have attempted to attain the desired result by the employment of relatively complicated devices such, for example, as conveyors designed to cause the seed cotton, which rises at the ends of the roll-box, to move inwardly toward the center of the box, but so far asis known to me none of such prior devices has proven commerciallypractical or valuable.

In the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated certain desirable embodiments of the invention by way of example:-

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved float-board or extension curve embodying the present invention;

I Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical front-to-rear section through the roll-box and adjacent parts of a linter gin havingthe present invention embodied therein;

Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary elevation of the righthand end of the gin shown in section in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but to smaller scale, and illustrating a modified construction.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I (Fig.

5) indicates one of the end frame members of the breast structure of a gin of a well-known type, such end wall having a bearing for the float-roll shaft 2, a bearing for the saw-cylinder shaft 3, and also a bearing for the float-board shaft 4, it being understood that the opposite end frame member 1 (Fig. 4) of the breast structure is provided with bearings for the other ends of the respective shafts. Referring to Fig. 4, the saw-cylinder shaft 3 carries the saw cylinder, comprising the blades 5 which cooperate with the bars 6 of the gratefall in usual manner to remove the useful fiber from the seeds to which it is attached. Above the grate-fall is the roll-box 1 having the front wall 8 and the rear, forwardly concave lining member or "concave 9.

The roll-box I is open at its top Ill for the entrance of seed cotton, and within the roll-box and carried by the shaft 2 is the float-roll II which is slowly turned during the operation of the machine in a direction opposite to that of the saw cylinder.

The improved float-board or extension-curve I2, forming the immediate subject matter of the present invention, preferably comprises an elongate piece of sheet metal adapted to extend substantially from one end to the other of'the rollbox and which is bent transversely so that ,in. front-to-rear section it is forwardly concave, preferably having a curvature approximating that of the concave 9. The rear edge I3 (Figs. 2 and 3) of this float-board I2 preferably is substantially rectilinear and, .ina preferred construction, is seated in a recess in the peripheral surface of the shaft 4, being fixedly secured to the shaft by means of rivets I4; screws; spot welding, or the like, so that the float-board is constrained to partake of any rotational movement of the shaft. The shaft is disposed at the back side of the float-board when the latter is mounted in the machine (as illustrated in Fig. 4) so that it does not obstruct the interior of the roll-box.

Ordinarily and as here illustrated, the shaft 4 is provided, at one end at least, with an arm I6 (Fig. 5) which carries a Weight I! so disposed that the effect of gravity upon this weight is to tend to swing the free edge I5 of the floatboard downwardly, so that the free margin of the board presses with considerable force upon the mass of seed cotton within the roll-box, it being noted that the float-board extends forwardly to such a distance that its free edge l5 overlaps the roll of seed cotton which is formed in and slowly rotates atthe central part of the roll box.

In accordance with the present'invention the free edge I5 of the float-board comprises a substantially straight or rectilinear portion I5 (Fig. 1) parallel to the rearedge l3, and inclined end portions I5 and I5 which extend from the opposite ends I9 and 20, respectively, of the straight portion I to the outer ends 21 and 22, respectively, of the float-board, the lnclined edge portions I5 and ISPmaking acute angles I8 withthe straight midd1e"portionl'5 Preferably the straight middle portion I5 occupies about two-thirds of the entire length of the float-board, the inclined portionslfi and I5 each occupying approximately one-sixth of the length of the board. By reason of these forwardly divergent inclined edge portions l5 and I5 the board is wider at its ends than at its central portion,the width at the central portion of the board being'of the'order of threefourths of the width at the extreme end portions, and the angle 18 being of the'order of 3. For specific example, if 'theentire length of the board between the en'ds'2l' and 22 be approximately 62", the length between the points I9 and 20 may be 40", and the distances between the points I9 and 20 and the adjacent ends-of the board respectively would then each be 11". Likewise, if the width of the board at its central portion (between its rear edge I3 and its forward edge I5) be 11 %",131118 width at the extreme outer ends of the board might be approximately 2 While these dimensions are given by way of specific example, it is tobe understood that they are notto be regarded as limiting the invention, 'but that variations in the dimensions of the. several portions of the'float-board may be made as circumstances may warrant, all within the scope of the invention. 1

While the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 is desirable, it is contemplated that the outer or free edge of the board may be of other specific contour than that illustrated in said Fig. 1. Thus, for example, in Fig. 6, the board I2 has the rectilinear rear edge I3 while its forward edge is of curved contour comprising the central portion I50 of a very large radius of curvature approximating a straight line, while the end portions I 50 and I50 are of a shorter radius of curvature, merging smoothly with the central portion I553, (in effect being tangent thereto) while, if desired, at their extreme outer ends, the curves I58 and I50 may merge with parts of reverse curvature.

When the improved float-board is mounted in the roll-box, the pressure which it exerts upon the material in the roll-box tends to be localized or to be more intense adjacent to the opposite ends of the board than at its central portion. Thus the normal tendency of the roll to become more dense at its central portion than at its ends is substantially counteracted by this action of the float-board so that the density of the roll from end to end becomes substantially uniform; the normal tendency of the seed cotton to boil up and spill out at the ends of the box is eliminated; the operation of the machine is made more efficient; and the product of the machine is of more uniform character than under prior practice when employing a float-board which is of uniform width from one end to the other.

Thus in a very simple and inexpensive way applicant has overcome the prior difficulties and by means which does not necessitate any modification of existing machines to permit its application thereto and which does not substantially add to the cost of the apparatus.

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have herein been illustrated by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in specifically different constructions and that the present disclosure is to be regarded as inclusive of any equivalents, either in shape or in dimensions of parts or in the materials employed, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A float-board or extension-curve for use in ginning apparatus, said board or curve having a substantially straight rear edge designed to fit in close juxtaposition to the upper edge of the concave of a gin roll box, the board being curved in front-to-rear section and being wider adjacent to its ends than at its central portion, the forward edge of the board being smooth and substantially unbroken.

2. A float-board or extension-curve for use in the roll-box of a gin, said board having a substantially rectilinear rear edge, and supporting means secured to the board adjacent to said rear edge, the forward edge of the board comprising a smooth and substantially uninterrupted central portion which is substantially rectilinear and parallel to said rear edge, and inclined end portions which diverge forwardly and away from said central portion so that the board is substantially wider at its ends than at its center.

3. A float-board or extension-curve for use in the roll-box of a gin, the board being wider at its ends than at its central part, the forward edge of the board comprising a substantially smooth and unbroken rectilinear central portion, and end portions substantially straight but diverging from said central portion at angles of the order of 3.

4. A float-board or extension-curve for use in the roll-box of a gin, the board being wider at its ends than at its central part, the forward edge of the board comprising an uninterrupted substantially rectilinear central portion of the order of two-thirds the length of the entire board, and inclined end portions each of the order of one-sixth of the length of the board, the board being of the order, of three-fourths as wide at its central portion as at its extreme ends.

5. A float-board or extension-curve for use in the roll-box of a gin, the board being wider at its ends than at its central part, the rear edge of the board being substantially straight, the board being substantially three-fourths as wide at its central portion as at its extreme ends, and the forward edge of the board being substantially smooth and uninterrupted and comprising curved end portions which are substantially tangent to its central portion.

6. The combination with ginning apparatus comprising a roll-box having a concave rear lining wall, of a float-board or extension-curve having a substantially straight rear edge disposed closely adjacent to the upper edge of said curved rear lining wall of the box, and pivotal means supporting the float-board near its rear edge thereby to permit the free forward edge of the board to rise and fall, the float-board being wider at its end portions than at its central portion and having a substantially smooth and unbroken forward edge thereby to produce a roll of substantially uniform density in the roll-box.

'7. The combination with ginning apparatus comprising a roll-box having a concave rear lining wall, of a float-board or extension-curve having a substantially straight rear edge disposed closely adjacent to the upper edge of said curved rear lining wall of the box, and pivotal means supporting the float-board near its rear edge thereby to permit the free forward edge of the board to rise and fall, the central portion of the forward edge of the board being smooth and unbroken and substantially straight and parallel to its rear edge, and the end portions of said forward edge being inclined at substantially equal angles respectively to said straight central portion whereby the board is wider at its ends than at its center so as to produce a roll of substantially uniform density in the roll-box.

A. S. COCKERHAM. 

